Chiyangwa to review Asiagate bans

ZIFA President, Phillip Chiyangwa has vowed that ZIFA will in its next Executive meeting seek to deliberate on the Asiagate bans in order to review some of the punishments and find closure in the matter that has been withstanding for a long time.

The Asiagate scandal were National team players alleged to have taken bribes to throw matches played in Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand was unearthed by the Cuthbert Dube led administration.

Masterminded by ex-convict Wilson Raj Perumal with the then ZIFA CEO Henrietta Rushwaya; several players were given punishmemt ranging from their involvement.

The players which are dispersed around the world continued playing club football as FIFA could not impose the recommendations made be by Zifa’s ethics committee. While other bans were eventually lifted.

“In an effort to find closure, I will propose that the issue of reviewing Asiagate sanctions be discussed at our next executive committee meeting,” ZIFA President Dr Phillip Chiyangwa told the Association’s official website www.zifa.org.zw.

“We understand some players, officials and journalists were banned for their alleged role in the Asiagate scandal.

“We feel it is prudent to review such sanctions and unite members of the football fraternity,” said Dr Chiyangwa.

As of March 2012, 98 Zimbabwean players had been suspended due to an ongoing investigation. Some have completeted their sentences while some have been cleared while others are still locked out of football.

In the interests of saving what’s left of Zimbabwe’s footballing reputation, Chiyangwa will seek to find closure in the matter after which some of the sentences were deemed too harsh while felt the hearings and sentencing was done without proper investigations by the ZIFA ethnic council.